I have never been in awe of royalty since they are only human and not quite infallible. During my school days in MCKK, there were a few rajas and tengkus from the country's royal households amongst the good mix of blue bloods and peasantry in prep school and many are still my friends today. As a member of a proud Bugis clan from Linggi myself, I can trace my ancestral lineage direct to the legendary Bugis warrior/sailor prince Daeng Chelak, one of the famous Daeng band of brothers from Sulawesi who went on to found what are now the royal houses of Selangor and Johor. No big deal here perhaps, but this makes me as 'royal' as I want to fancy myself to be.
Charges of derhaka (treason) or lèse majesté or whatever to the Sultan of Perak levelled against Perak MB Mohd Nizar by members of the Barisan Nasional for refusing to step down are to my mind pretty silly, if not downright bloody stupid. (Read the Malaysiakini report, here). It is simply a matter of the rule of law and the country's top legal minds are still debating the issue in cyberspace. History books are also full of accounts of mighty emperors, kings, Marcoses, Idi Amins et al having been unceremoniously booted out for failing to heed the call and committing derhaka against the rakyat, the final arbiter of things.
The government of the day should be wise to try and learn from history.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
20 comments:
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The Ancient Mariner
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From one Bugis to another……I trace my ancesteral lineage to these two: Arong Limbang anak Peta Pechawal, Raja Besar Bugis Di Sanghie (Sanji) married to Anak Raja Jawa Di Sulawesi (so that practically makes us (as Elvis said) “Kissing Cousins”) - now whether my ancestors came to Malaysia because they were blown of course or stopped here on their way to Mecca is open to conjecture but as you say “no big deal” because when you are over 60 these kind of things no longer makes a difference to your life….but this Perak Royalty thing is another ball game.
ReplyDeleteIn the past Nazrin and his Father have always taken the moral high ground as voices of the nation’s conscience in their utterances on issues of governance, judicial independence and race relations. They could do so because that was all it was – just talk - but when it really matters cakap bukan seperti bikin lah. Does that surprises anybody? Royalty in Malaysia will go the way the Maharaja's did in India - it's just a question of when.
Perak MB Mohd Nizar also had his day in court. When all is said and done it must be said the sad position that he finds himself in can only be a “What If….” Scenario over and over again. But it is a done deal and the sooner he understands the situation he is in the sooner he can regroup and prepare himself and his people for what is to come next - do unto others as they would do unto you – tomorrow is another day.
Steadyaku47
Captain,
ReplyDeleteIf our prophets can take abuse and punishments for doing the right thing cant we criticise our leaders for doing the wrong? Sultan ke, PM ke,bapak ke, everyone is equal before God.All I can conclude is hari ni, hari dia orang.All religions say these are the last days and somehow it seems so true.
jebat
Javanese (Malay) values are not compatible with Islamic values. The informed and educated know this well. So does PAS, though they will not admit it openly.
ReplyDeleteRelated info:
http://margeemar.blogspot.com/2009/02/nizar-derhaka-atau-sultan-yang-abaikan.html
http://scottthong.wordpress.com/2008/09/08/michael-chick-who-are-the-malays-and-how-to-unite-them/
Maybe Indonesia should invade the fake country called Malaysia, throw out the government and corrupted system including the monarchy, and call it the straits settlements of various races and religions from all over the world, especially Asia.
We would be more developed, diverse, strong and cosmo compared to Australia if the British had done a HK on us.
The current system, rules, constitution and rukun negara were just put in place by UMNO to prolong their (fake and manipulative concept of) Malay Elite dominance, which is in actuality only for UMNOputra dominance; and to allow their divide and conquer tactics and methods to fester and disunite.
Ketuanan UMNO boleh! People deserve the government they get! Time for the people to rise and rebel!
Hahaha ... couldn't take a Clifford Alumni doing a number on Kolet Anwar.
ReplyDeleteBTW weren't you at the Yellow March shouting Daulat Tuanku in 2007?
I wasn't there.
In fact, me and Bigdog had a long one with YM Raja Petra on Malam Raya belting against the idea of empowering Royals.
I even wrote a piece on royalty citing the life of Diana and put up on Malaysia Today.
Nevertheless, we need the Royals for sovereign legitimacy. There are areas we do not need them. Thus, the need for Constitutional Monarchy.
By quoting all those historical personality, are you now for an uprising against Monarchy?
Pak Lah flip flop disease is contagious :)
Dear Captain,
ReplyDeleteAs history has shown, the rakyat has always been the subject of manipulation. Then they wake up to reality. When the rakyat is woken up, a new era starts (for better or worse - but with new hope).
The Perak Sultan and the Raja Muda had set very high standards for themselves through various speeches and lectures. That had put the rakyat to slumber. Now the true colours have emerged - CAKAP TAK SERUPA BIKIN.
The Sultan has set the ignition switch of a highly charged car which he cannot steer.
Interesting times indeed.
Best regards
Captain Sedov
Tg Razaleigh has described the scene in Perak as shameful. It indeed is. Now anybody wants to label him "derhaka".
ReplyDeleteFrm: fair play
The Sultan refusing to dissolve the Assembly is his prerogative. LEGALLY nobody can challenge him although morally it's different. But the Sultan's order to Nizar to resign is a BLATANT disregard for the supreme law i.e the constitution as the constitution is clear on who can appoint and who can dismiss the MB as Tg Razaleigh rightly pointed out. The expression of loss of confidence in Nizar must come from the mouth of the Assembly and not from anybody's else. Think of this: I'm a member of UMNO. If I lose confidence in its President (I hv in fact lost it) can I gather all the delegates in my house and if I manage to get their support can I go to UMNO HQ to give effect to that "decision"? In other words will UMNO HQ recognise it? Chances are that UMNO HQ will issue press statement: "As far as UMNO constitution is concerned that meeting is unlawful. Any motion must be tabled at an EGM to be properly convened by the Sec Gen upon requisition by not less than x no. of delegates". A little bit of history: When Datuk Harun refused to resign as MB of Selangor in the 70s, PM Hussein Onn quickly rounded up all ADUNs and confined them to Fraser's Hill for "pep talks" for several days. They were later ferried to the State Assembly to pass a vote of no confidence against Harun (They should have gone to Taiwan instead). Later when Harun was convicted (by a judge named Raja Azlan Shah) we witnessed the unbecoming reaction from UMNO Youth far more despicable than the one at Istana Bukit Chandan. No need for me to give details here other than saying it's a BLATANT disregard for the law.
ReplyDeletefrm: law abiding
Its a mystery how Azlan Shah made this decision which did not respect the wishes of the majority of Peraks citizens. And the haste it was done suggests sinister motives on UMNO and the Perak royal family. I don't think Azlan Shah was misadvised by najib. I think both of them, in collusion of other UMNO leaders and top government officers (EC, State Secretary, Chief Secretary to the Govt,IGP) have their dirty paws in this orchestration.
ReplyDeleteSri Hartamas
Capt
ReplyDeleteread somewhere that the call is now no more 'Daulat Tuanku' but 'Duitlah Tuanku'!
Cap,
ReplyDeleteUr point is similar to mine in a way i.e. both the monarchy and the subjects are interdependent. But u beat mine by a day :)
http://dnightcaller.blogspot.com/2009/02/monarchy-of-numbers-abdication-and.html
Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are...
Saya akan menderhaka kpd yg menderhaka kdp undang2. Daulaut undang2!!! (daulat yg lain).
ReplyDeletedpd: daulat undang2
The daughter of the Sultan of Perak owned 150.7 million Gamuda shares as at 15/5/2008 (anybody can check this on Bursa website). Even at tdy's low price of RM1.91 it still amounts to a fat RM288 million. At its highest price of RM5.30 a year ago the stake was valued at RM800 million. Gamuda is now facing problems with Pakatan Govt in Penang. It seems these problems plus loss of market capitalization of RM512 million had made the Perak Govt a scapegoat... It's so hard to think otherwise, rightly or wrongly. Based on this I support the suggestion that Raja Azlan's judgments as a judge be revisited as he has demonstrated that he could be influenced ...
ReplyDeletefrm: rakyat biasa
Anonymous 08 February 2009 13:27:00wrote:
ReplyDelete"The Sultan refusing to dissolve the Assembly is his prerogative. "
The issue whether the sultan as a constitutional monarch has the prerogative to sack or appoint a menteri besar was very well discussed and debated by the legal profession on the internet while those reported in the mainstream media are understandably biased.
One of the most enlightening debates is between the two lawyer bloggers- Art Harun and Malik Imtiaz Sarwar - on the Menteri Besar crises in Trengganu in March 2008 and the current one in Perak.
Art Harun's thesis that a sultan under a constitutional monarchy system does not have the prerogative to sack the MB without first establishing a point of fact of a no confidence vote from a sitting of the legislative assembly is very persuasive and convincing. The same point was raised by Prof Abdul Aziz A Bari in his rejection of Assoc Prof Shamrahau Abdul Aziz's contention that a mere report by Najib and his delegation at the Sultan's residence can be used to dismiss the sitting Menteri Besar.
Art Harun intuitively said it perfection when he wrote:
It is within our local (especially the Malays) mentality and perception, that the Rulers do have the rights to “tell off” the executive when the later goes astray. And to act in any way which is repugnant to the Rulers’ wishes may be regarded as rude or even treasonous. However, in my humble opinion, this has NO legal basis whatsoever and is NOT reflective of legal REALITY.
And he had also ominously predicted the current crisis in Perak in March 2008 in is comments on the Trengganu crisis:
"Can we imagine a situation where the Ruler may decide mid-term to change an MB BECAUSE HE THINKS that MB does not command the confidence of the majority anymore?"
It is our view that to engage in the debate based on our own personal whims and fancies without adequate understanding of the legal and constitutional basis of how our nation was established and without the knowledge of modus vivendi established by our nation's founding fathers between the monarchy and its subjects, can lead to misleading conclusion for oneself and others, and making us intellectually poorer as citizens.
We have reposted the above debates, in particular of Art Harun and Malik Imtiaz Sarwar in our website. We think this particular discussion between Art Harun and Malik Imtiaz Sarwar deserves a full reading by Malaysians in general:
Read here: http://malaysianunplug.blogspot.com/2009/02/does-ruler-have-power-to-appoint-and.html
And that of Prof Abdul Aziz Bari below:
http://malaysianunplug.blogspot.com/2009/02/constitutional-law-expert-shamrahayu.html
Thank you
Malaysians Unplugged Uncensored Team
To M'sian unplug,
ReplyDeleteTQ for responding to my comment but I'm not sure which part of my comment you're attracted to which resulted in insinuation of "own whims and fancies". I mentioned 2 things. One is that the Sultan's prerogative to dissolve or not to dissolve the Assembly can't be challenged legally. It's one of the few areas that he can decide without having to follow the advice of the MB. Secondly the sacking of Nizar in the manner as done by the Sultan is ultra vires the constitution. Reading yr comment, I get the impression that you're not addressing my points but rather telling me what you know.
frm: law abiding
Salam Tuan and a very good morning.
ReplyDelete'Any good friend of Cpt.Rahim is a friend of mine'
Could resist the ancestory lineage
link:
http://akusufi.blogspot.com/2008/02/politic-borelitik-or-borektik.html
Wassalam.Good day sir.
Put there by the British, to fool the rakyat. Who is to say that they have "royal" blood. Rakyat appoint them. Its the rakyat who is to be considered, Kings can come and Kings can go! No love lost. Blue blood indeed..... aiyooo!
ReplyDeleteMatthews
Emergency was declared in Sarawak in the 60s when Chief Minister Stephen Kalong Ningkan was at odds with Federal leadership. Tunku wanted to remove him but Ningkan wouldn't convene a special meeting of the State Assembly to enable the tabling of motion of no confidence. When the Governor dismissed him he took the case to court (those days the court was much, much more impartial) and won. The court declared that only the Assembly could boot him out. One special point to note: Who was the speaker who refused to convene the meeting? He must be related to Pendikar Amin yg tak berapa mulia tu.
ReplyDeletefrm: org lama
The daughter of the Sultan of Perak who owns 150 million shares in Gamuda is married to Farouk Abdullah whose company KAB Sdn Bhd (a developer) is facing financial difficulties. At one time (in the 80s) KAB used to be blacklisted by EPF relating to EPF withdrawals to buy houses. Farouk used to be married to Sue, a daughter of Robert Kuok (yes, the Sugar King). Sue is now the wife of Rashid Hussin, former owner of RHB.
ReplyDeletefrm: historian
RPK has posted a Malay Mail article on his Corridors of Power. In that article, there is clear mention of 'RPK's support of Perak’s Sultan Azlan Shah'.
ReplyDeletehttp://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/18084/84/
I do not think RPK would have put that up on MT, if he did not agree with it himself.
So:
1) The Sultan really is innocent and did not accept bribes and was "not" forced into the decision?
2) A decision he made with the best interest of the people of Perak in mind?
Will RPK answer the 2 questions above specifically in time or avoid it forever? If he does not know, why post that article on MT?
Can anyone blame me for "Derhaka"????
ReplyDeletevisit my web
www.melayuberaja.org